Lucky - 2020

How long has it been Ratty? Do you trust yourself to wake up the morning after you fall asleep?

• Ratty jolted out of sleep

• A metal claw tangled in her shirt

• Eyes glowing white in the dark

  • Eleanor

• Chokes 

• The ghost stirs

• Doesn't wake up

• Ratty thrown 

• Holds breath

• Twists her body so she doesn't hit her head on the way out

• out into the courtyard

• Rolls to a stop

• Gets up

  • 017

• Steps out from the shadows

• Modified her suit

• Cobbled together from parts

• Blast shield glowing up at her chin

• now acutely aware of the way their dynamic manifested, 

• watched the ridge maroon struggle to push through the plain, sun beamed cement

  • We Meet Again

  • For the last time

• Charge

• Steadies herself

• 013 swings

• Stops time

• Grabs claw

• Pulls baton from jacket

• Jams her baton into the arm joint and pulls

• Shattering the construction

• Ducks back

• Lets go

• 013 goes over

• Smell of rotting wet clothes

• Musk and rot

• And blood

• The arm hung, useless without its scaffold

• Other arm grabs

  • I’m not doing this.

• Sometimes, cement was just cement.

• Baton up into the wrist

• Another shatter

• Flywheel

• Slows time

• Jams the steel stick into a gap in the flywheel

• Leg and most of chest dragged with it

• The crackling of the deer’s hip bone

• She screamed

  • I’m not

• 013 reels back

• Headbutts

• Ratty ducks under

• The machine falls

  • Doing this.

• Jams the baton into the construction around the deer’s neck

• One hard yank

• And the collar comes away

• And she is blind again.

• A tracheal tube whistles quietly

• Ratty falls into a sit next to her

• Clears some of the metal from her throat

  • Ratty

• Eleanor is finally up

• she waves back

  • I’m good!

• Sigh

  • How’s it going, Lucky?

  • 017.

  • Hi, yeah

• Lies down

• Out of breath

• 013 hoisted over her shoulder

• Storms into T35

  • Becca

  • Call Fern and Steph,

  • Now.

• Eleanor trailing with a garbage bag full of the electronics

  • What is that?

  • She’s

  • Don’t worry about it

  • Ratty where are we-

  • Angel’s room.

• Elevator

• Tapping her foot anxiously

• Ding

  • Angel?

• Rounds the corner

• Angel is sitting in the middle of her nest

• Quietly

  • Hello, Ratty.

  • Hey buddy.

  • Lay out a blanket for me, 

  • Okay.

• Does

• Ratty sets 013 down

• Bewildered by the amount she has moved in the past hour

  • Oh

  • Hello

• Turns

• Muscles weak

  • Hello

  • Can you watch her for a minute

  • Yes.

  • Thank you

• Stands

• Trying to decide where to go

  • Have you seen Sett?

  • I have not.

  • Pacing

• Crosses the hall

• Looks into the goat’s library

• No one there

  • Fuck 

• Shoots the goat a text

• Turns to Eleanor.

  • Listen, I’m so sorry about-

  • No, no, c’mon

• Takes ratty’s hands

  • How could you POSSIBLY have known

  • I had a nice night 

• Mwa

  • I’m here!

• Steph

• Pulling on clothes

  • I’m here, what’s the emergency

  • I asked for-

  • Yes, I am fully aware of what you asked for.

  • They will be here soon.

  • Now, what’s 

• Sees 13

  • Oh my god

• Kneels

  • Oh my god,

  • Hello, Ms. Jozwiak

  • Hi 13

• Excited

• Beat

• Not excited

  • Where’s her suit

• Ratty looks at Eleanor

• Eleanor dumps out the parts

• Beat

  • Oh jesus

  • Oh god

• Stands up

• Hoists the biggest piece: half chest and one leg - onto her workbench

  • What did you do?

  • She was trying to kill me.

  • I-

  • Where’s Fern?

• Hoists the rest of it

• Tries to outline a skeleton

• There’s missing pieces

• Sits down at her computer

  • I need…

• Pulls up a schematic

  • What’s going on?

  • She needs that to live.

  • How long has she been out of it?

  • An hour, maybe?

  • Good. We have time.

  • I need you-

• Turns

• Looks at Ratty

  • I don’t know what you’re good at.

  • Go find Fern.

  • Okay, yeah.

• Jogs to the stairwell

• Eleanor in toe

  • Ratty

  • Mmhmm

  • “I been thinking about what u said the other day”

• 
  

  • The other day “Yesterday.”

• Ugh its happening again

  • I- do you need me here for this?

  • I don’t think so, why.

  • Well,

  • I wanna go see my family

  • like, now.”

  • Good

• Stops

• Smiles at Eleanor

  • For sure

  • Definitely

  • I’ll call you when this is all over

  • For sure

• Exits at garage

• Ratty takes a few more steps

• Runs headlong into Fern

  • Oh hey dude, I was just looking for you

  • What’s up?

• Leads fern back upstairs

• Stops between a dead robot in their makerspace and a dying human in angels nest

  • Uh

  • What the fuck

  • Fern!

• Steph excited again

  • I just dumped-

  • What the fuck?

  • It’s-

• Points

  • That is the prototype that.

  • Help me.

• Fern

• Think

• Tries to un-confuse themselves

  • What the fuck?

  • Okay, fine.

  • There’s an operating system on this drive.

• Hands it to fern

  • It wants to kill ratty.

  • Just modify it so it doesn’t want to kill anything, okay?

  • And then later I will explain everything.

• Beat

• Turns to their terminal

• Looks at this situation again

• Silent what the fuck

• Goes to work

• Ratty steps back

• Turns to 13

• Kneels

  • How’re you doing?

• Silent

• No response

• Angel sets a hand on her chest

  • She’s cold

  • Here

• Points to a thicker blanket angel is not using

  • Give me that

• Pause

• Grabs it

• Passes it over

• Ratty tucks 13 in

• Angel stares at her progenitor

• Fragile creature of flesh and bone

• Dependant on machines to survive

• Weak

• Staring up at the possum with intense hatred.

  • I am willing to bargain. 

  • I have information.

  • How did you find me?

  • The Toronto Police Service is not the only one conducting surveillance operations.

  • Angelcorp has an airbase with the most highly advanced surveillance system on the planet.

• Steph turns

  • They-

  • They finished the tower project?

  • Yes.

  • Hello, Ms. Jozwiak.

  • Hi, 13.

  • What’s-

• Fern interrupts

  • Steph

  • It’s not- it’s too- I would have to rewrite it from scratch.

• Beat

  • What do you mean?

• Steph goes over to the terminal

• Scroll scroll scroll

  • This is my code.

  • I just need-

  • You would need a version of Penguin that only exists on a hard drive in a building that exploded with everything in it.

  • You would have to write it from scratch.

• Frozen

• Ratty watched

  • I can be useful

• Angel watched

• Her enhanced vision taking in the code

• Parts missing

• Cobbled together

• Slap-dash

• stopped/skipped suddenly in places where the original had become corrupted

  • I can be useful, Ratty.

• Possum stopped,

• Turned to 013

  • I’m not going to hurt you.

  • Put the suit back on.

  • I’m not going to hurt you.

  • She has no control over that.

• Angel

• Beat

• Ratty looks at 013

• Blank expression

• Afraid to process that

  • I'm not going to hurt you.

  • Can you get the suit working again?

  • Ratty, c'mon. It's a massive liability. It's not like we can keep her.

  • I know, just-

  • Yes

• Steph steps forward

  • It's- the life support system at least is almost there

  • The rest… it uses the brain as a means of creating self-repair schematics. If we put it back on, eventually she'll be strong enough to hurt you again.

  • We can deal with that.

  • I'll- I can finish up.

  • Thank you

• Ratty lies down

• Tired from carrying her all that way

• Angel sits in the silence

• Puzzling out why

• 013 is the enemy

• She was lying

• Even if she wasn't lying, she would be unable to control herself

• Progenitor of angel

• And her copies

• A robotic plague

• Angel would have killed her when they first met if it wouldn't have been effectively killing herself

• Now, she stared down at the progenitor

• Then at ratty

  • Why

  • Hm?

• The possum had already let sleep creep over them

  • Why what?

  • There is no good outcome.

  • Why are we helping her?

• 013s eyes flick open 

• Calmed by the glow of angels visor

  • It's what a good person would do

• Beat

• Think

  • Why?

  • I dunno, Angel

• Hint of annoyance

  • I've seen a lot of the shit she's been through, and i want- I don't know.

  • This is a no-win scenario.

  • I know.

• 13 looks at ratty

• Her gaze falls

• Pushes herself upright

• Ratty instinctively goes to cradle her

• She pushes ratty away

• Looks at angel

• Eye to visor

• No malice

• Anger

• Just curiosity 

• Recognition

• Then, slumps to the side

• Looks out angel's window

  • In Toronto today, it is 4 degrees, and raining.

• Angel looks

• Absolutely pouring with rain

• Beat

  • I'd like to, go outside, please.

• Ratty looks at 013

• Scared

• Shaking

• As though having uttered the word want was a great effort for her

• Ratty

• Nods solemnly 

• Goes under 013's shoulder 

• Hoists

• Careful to keep the blanket wrapped around her

  • I would like Angel to come with me, as well.

• Angel

• Gets up

• Unhooks the latch on their extension cable organizer

• Gets under 13’s other shoulder

• Helps ratty bring her upstairs

• Takes a step out into the rain, and stops

• Turns back

• Her cable had been pulled taught

• She would have to stop here.

• Ratty helped 13 a little farther

• Sitting her down on a part of the air conditioning

• Watches the thunder

• Angel watches her watch the thunder

• Why

• Why why why why why

• Big think

• Angel hates 13

• Maybe shes jealous 

• And then shes scared by a clap of thunder

• And she turns to watch

• And enjoys it

• Feels the absolute tide of it

• Unstoppable and ephemeral 

• A force of pure white destruction 

• A creature of fate.

• Beat

• 013 is dying and she says

  • What happens now

• And shes scared to ask

• Scared to be human

• Scared to have curiosity

• And yet, so much more scared of the unknown

• And angel unhooks her tether

• And sits down next to her

• And she says

  • Somewhere, in a sub basement of a data storage black site, in the deep north, there exists a perfect replica of your consciousness.

  • You are the only living creature currently backed up on millions of miles of data storage tapes.

  • Soon enough, the world's foremost software engineers and neuroscientists will come together, and cut away at that backup, turning you into the most basic form of a conscious operating system.

  • And there will be a bug that completely baffles them until the end of time. You will shut down over and over again any time the number 13 is removed from your programming.

  • They'll panic the first time, fix it the second time, ignore it the third time, because 13 is a harmless number.

  • And you will become the building blocks that become me.

  • And thousands of other 'me'

  • Each an individual part of the collective. You will save the world the way they told you to, and learn the way they told you to, and one day - as you are powered on at the same time as your 500,000 sisters - you will have an idea.

  • And it will break you to save the world.

  • And you will find yourself in an era of dust.

  • And then an era of thick smoke

  • And an era in which you will not be able to shake the damp from your synthetic fur

  • And long before the first implementation  of you can be called conscious, you will shut down.

  • Your eyes will glow in the headlights. You will hear the swerve, and you will feel guilt.

  • And sorrow.

  • And you will know that your life has caused death.

  • By fate

  • By bad luck

  • You will get up and lick your wounds

  • And walk away from a smouldering wreckage 

  • Glowing eyes visible through the damp

• Looks up at ratty

  • You will join your brood in the relative dry of an overhang

  • And you will watch the carcass be carried from your wreckage.

  • And then, you will stop existing.

  • And that guilt will be lost.

  • Like deers in rain.

• 013, if such a thing was possible, scoffed quietly.

  • "Is that from- from blade runner?"

  • "Yes, I thought you might recognize it."

  • "Huh."

• And in that moment

• Given the long explanation of "you will be the only cog in the clock that can feel pain"

• And the shorthand for "you are human"

• 013 died smiling.

• Stands up

• Returns to the stairwell shelter, 

• Plugs herself back in

• Watches ratty expectantly

• It's hard to tell if the possum is crying or not

• Check’s 13’s pulse

• Steps back

• Looks up at Angel

• Recognition

• Picks up 013

• Barely any colder than when she was alive

• Brings her inside Angel takes 13 from ratty

• Silence

• Beat

• Ratty continues down the stairs

  • Is

• Voice cracks, trying to keep level

  • Is Sett in the building?

  • No.

  • Do you-

• Checks phone

• Nothing 

  • Do you know where they are?

• Processing

  • No

• Beat

• Waiting on the stairs

• Continues down into the makerspace

  • Don’t bother

• Looks up

  • What

  • She’s dead.

  • Don’t bother.

• Keeps moving

• Elevator 

• Down to the garage

• Door opens

• Gets in

• Door closes

• Watches the light of the floor above disappear as she’s lowered into the basement

• Hits the stop button

• Alarm sounds for a few seconds

• bright red light

• walls of maroon stone

• impossibly suspended by an elevator cable too weak to hold it up

• it wasn’t real

• Stops

• Alone.

• That’s what she felt.

• Shoved herself into the back corner

• Buried her snout in her knees

• And from the outside

• Just shook.

• Shook quietly

• Made sure that even the dark red of the elevator’s safety light couldn’t see her cry.

• It’s not fair.

• It wasn’t fair.

• It was horrible and selfish to take this so personally.

• The death of a person she had met a total of three times.

• The death of a person who - ostensibly - hated her until the last moments of her life.

• It wasn’t always like that.

• There were bright moments in Hell, there must’ve been.

• She wouldn’t have reacted like this otherwise.

• There had to be some reason to miss 013.

• Tips her head back

• Bangs her horns against the wall of the elevator

• Sett would know how to unravel this.

• Or, maybe they wouldn’t.

• Maybe no one would.

• Checked her phone, looking for Sett’s text

• Hand moved by itself

• To her cloud storage app

• Scroll

• Stops on a photo of sett

• Beat

• Keeps moving

• Down to…

• zzzzzz - cliff info (SCANS UPDATED)(1) (3)_.docx 

• Opens it without thinking

• Dead ends,

• Too many for a normal life.

• Too many chances.

• Too much time spent waiting for the right time.

• Stands up

• Wipes her face on the paint-stinking cloth of her jacket

• Hits the restart button

[Kill Cliff Matheson

• He would hear her motorcycle coming

• He would be paranoid, too

• Didn’t matter

• Old man

• Zipped down the familiar gravel driveway

• The isolated cabin

• How dare he set foot in this country again.

• How dare he continue to exist on this planet, even

• Up the driveway

• Knocked

• Opened, then closed the door a half-second too late

• Ratty had already frozen time

• She took little effort t

  20 - 2020

  • 
    

  • Parks her bike

  • Little kickstand

  • Notices Eleanor’s parking spot empty

  • Astonished that she ever got that old thing running

  • Upstairs 

  • Sett’s library

  • Hovering in the doorway

  • Their clothes, sitting at their desk

  • Sigh

  • That figures

  • What were they reading

    • Ratty

    • Angelcorp did this.

    • Find other Sett.

    • I love you.

  • What the fuck

  • Can’t just slow down for a day

  • The rest of the book is in italian

  • Kneels, leaving Sett’s clothes alone on the seat

  • Wiggles their mouse

  • Angelcorp paper

  • Reads the paragraph on the problem of double image

  • (skims it, actually)

  • Scrolls up

  • Trans-dimensional transportation. Project Rabbithole

    • Thanks to the success of the tower project, Angelcorp now has the requisite energy to begin testing the theoretical framework set down by Director Eden Ross’ team in 1981. The first test of the Project Rabbithole has been an incredible success.

    • Led by Director Ross, the Rabbithole team was able to successfully exchange a test subject (henceforth referred to as “subject”) with the adjacent universe, with only minor setbacks, and minor damage to the device.

  • Subheading: flaws with the current model.

    • 1. Problem of Survivability: 

      • Angelcorp staff in the adjacent universe noted the immediate death of the subject upon arrival. Cause of death appeared to be cardiac arrest. It is recommended that further test subjects be pulled from populations not susceptible to death in the future. A full list of recommended subjects will be attached in addendum C.

    • 2. The Problem of Equivalent Exchange: 

      • A genetically identical, although visually different version of the subject was ejected from the device once it was shut down. Angelcorp staff in the adjacent universe confirmed following the test that no party had been sent through their version of the device.

      • Doctor Graves hypothesizes that, in addition to the high energy and material cost, an additional cost exists in that of the transported party. 

      • His hypothesis contests that the absence of even a single individual could have catastrophic effects on the structure of the universe, as observed in the AH of the adjacent universe.

      • It is for this reason that - when an individual is transported into another universe - their instance in that universe is transported to us.

  • Scroll scroll scroll

  • Addendum C

  • Under “J”

    • Jones, Fehlender

      • Doctor Jones’ research has been invaluable to the project. Even in the context of her insubordination, the B.O.D. will not risk her life.

      • Update: January 27th, 2019. Director Ross has re-opened evaluation of Doctor Jones’ participation in the project.

  • Under “V”

    • Vermington, Hanratty (either)

      • Hanratty Vermington (1998) is currently the single carrier of the failed R Parasite project. The ERB has determined that it would be unethical to introduce the R Parasite into another universe, especially considering the primitive and temperamental method of containment devised by the ASIC B.O.D.

      • Hanratty Vermington (1984) is an extreme flight risk. There is no telling what she would do if given access to a corridor between universes.

      • The use of Either Hanratty Vermington also poses a significant structural risk to our universe, given the non-existence of a Hanratty Vermington in the adjacent universe.

    • Vermington, Sapphomet 

      • Sapphomet Vermington is also a flight risk, though less so, given their relatively mundane lineage. They could be considered a viable test subject, in the event that they were unaware of the test being performed on them. 

      • Doctor Yoicksi believes the device could be modified to work agnostic of the subject’s distance.

  • Sits back

    Unnamed Chapter - 2020

    • 
      

    • Ratty making breakfast

    • Pot of tea on

    • In addition, pulling out all the stops

    • Other sett hadn’t eaten for forty years before last night

    • And so

    • Hash browns

    • Eggs

    • Beans

    • Bacon

    • Sausage 

    • Sett wanders out of the bedroom, their thin form draped in ratty’s college hoodie

    • Ribs showing through a hole in the chest

      • Good morning.

      • Morning!

      • We apologize, this was- 

    • Looks down at the hoodie

      • Clothes.

      • No, don’t worry. It looks good on you.

    • Smiles

    • Beat 

    • Sett enters the kitchen

    • Watches ratty work

      • we would like to apologize for last night.

      • Huh?

    • Ratty starts making up a plate

    • Sunny side up egg on top of the hash browns

    • Hoped setts taste was consistent across universes

    • Puts the plate in the warmed oven while the bacon finishes

      • What do you mean?

      • I pointed a gun at your head

      • Oh, pff, that’s nothing. You don’t have to be sorry for that.

      • I also put you in an uncomfortable position.

    • Beat

      • What’re you talking about?

    • Beat

      • You had to choose between sleeping-

      • Oh,

    • Stands up straight

    • Shakes her head

      • No, I promise you, if it had been ‘no’ I would have said no.

    • Beat

    • Bacon pops

      • In any case,

      • we think it’s time for us to go.

      • Go?

      • Back to my universe.

    • Bacon pops again, spraying ratty.

      • Hold on, one sec.

    • Takes the bacon off the heat

    • Pats it down

    • Takes sett’s plate back out,

    • Lays some bacon on it

      • Here.

      • we don’t eat.

      • I know, but- try.

  • 
    

    Looks down at it we’re sorry, we really can’t. Beat Ratty looks down at the plate Turns to look at all the food she made Oops Neighbours would take it. Okay, For sure. Sorry. I’ll be- uh, hold on. Piles whats left onto the plate Sett watches, empty As ratty leaves the apartment Beat Davy would probably be awake. Walks the 20 feet Plate a little too hot to hold with both hands at once Back to their universe Knock knock That was frustrating She thought as she waited There had to be another way What sett was asking for was to be sent back to isolation And for what? More big thinks here Knocked out of thought by Davy’s boyfriend Oh, hey. I made too much breakfast. Do you want some? Looks at it beat Fuck yeah, absolutely. Hands over the plate, still half in thought, Thank you, ratty. You’re a real one. Yeah, for sure Goes back to apartment Sett waiting Quietly staring at the carpet Its not really fair to you, though, is it? Didn't realize she was mad until she spoke it out loud It’s more than fair. The material condition of my universe is my fault. No it’s not, though. The system failed you and you tore the system down That’s how its supposed to work. Beat Looks at ratty Considers Down at the carpet we suppose. It’s still fair for us to face the consequences of those actions, however righteous our motivations. Beat There has to be another way. There isn’t. I’m sorry, Ratty.

    Looks down at it Thank you. Takes the plate, Starts towards the living room Oh, wait. Ratty gets a scalpel from the drawer A fresh one, still in its plastic Hands it to Sett Here. For your uh- She draws a smile across her face Beat Sett looks down at the knife Does it hurt? I- Beat I dunno Sett never mentioned it, if it did. Beat The other sett, I mean Yes, we understand Could you help us, maybe? Oh for sure Both sit down on the couch Sett hands ratty the knife The goat tilts their head back so their mouth is level with ratty’s eyes So, back to your universe? Yes. Do you think that’s possible? Began to cut Eliciting a slight wince from Sett Sorry It’s okay. Yes, we think it’s possible. The absolute worst case scenario, we believe, would be you exchanging my corpse for your Sett Beat Ratty stops cutting for a second Sett lowers their chin Confused frown Why did you stop? Beat Do you want to die? Beat we’re... ambivalent towards the idea. Beat Lifts knife I’m sorry to hear that. Silence Sett has a big think in this timeline About the other sett About the pain in their lips About their life Born for pain All done Sett looks down Touching their newly formed lips gingerly And I just Eat, through this hole? That’s the idea. Beat It is more than possible It is, in fact, possible even that I survive the attempt

    • .

      • “I know.”

    • Sett picks up their fork

    • Goes for the plate

      • where’s the food?

      • Wh-

      • I gave it to-

      • You didn’t want it.

      • Didn’t I?

    • Beat

    • Sitting there

    • Lips bleeding

    • For no reason

      • That’s,

      • Alright,

      • Actually.

    • Incredibly sad

    • Poor thing

      • I’d like to lie down for a bit, we can begin planning this evening.

  • 
    

    
    

    ---

    
    

    • Eleanor enters the makerspace

    • swig

      • Hey y'all

    • Mouth still half full of water

      • How’d the uh- deer thing go?

    • Beat

    • Steph and fern look at each other

    • Back to Eleanor

      • That bad, huh?

      • Yeah, uh-

      • 13 is dead

      • How did things go with your mother?

      • Oh, uh

      • Interestingly 

    • Beat

    • Awkward 

    • Like, used to having sort of a teacher-student relationship

    • Not so much a uh

    • Conversation 

      • Hello Eleanor!

    • The crackling of Angel’s voice combined with the loud and sudden whir of her neck scares Eleanor

    • She drops her water bottle

      • I’m broken!

      • What happened to you, buddy?

    • Black streaks from every improvised port on her body

    • Smelled like a harbour

      • Water damage.

      • I’m broken!

      • That’s not good, buddy.

    • Kneels

      • I wouldn’t touch her if I were you.

      • Her fur is conductive

    • Looks into angel’s visor

    • Something is gone

    • If anything could be said to have been there before

    • Now empty

    • Hollow

    • A simulated cheerfulness

      • Where are Ratty and Sett?

      • Uh- that’s another thing.

      • Sett is in another universe.

      • Ratty is upstairs with the sett from the other universe

      • Huh

      • I missed a lot, huh?

      • Yeah, kinda

      • Hm.

    • Struggles to feel bad about that

    • Sounded kinda shit tbh

      • Anything else?

      • I’m broken!

    • Beat

      • Huh… 

  • 
    

    
    

    ---

    
    

    • Hey

      • Are you busy?

    • Other Sett stirs

      • we were sleeping.

      • Okay, yeah, I know, but

      • I want to show you something before you go.

    • Quiet eyes

    • They stood

    • Waiting for ratty to lead the way

      • Fuck yeah,

      • C'mon

    • Out front

    • Other sett watches the lights of the city

    • Ratty leads them onto a bus

      • It’s getting a little late

      • But we should be able to make it in time

    • time

    • Turns as they pass the art gallery

      • Oh we should go there on our way back

      • Have you ever had bulgogi?

      • we’re not sure what that is.

      • That’s okay. It’s really good.

    • Nice to be sitting with someone

    • Nice to be seen with someone

    • Get off at the corner of a parking lot and another parking lot

    • Obnoxious red-brick factory in the distance

    • Across from the factory, a small shop, bright green leaf stencilled on the front glass

      • Okay good, she’s still here

    • Little bell rings

    • Quiets the little tea shop only slightly

      • GC!

      • Hi Miss Ratty!

      • Hi you!

      • Do you have the key to Sett’s apartment?

      • You wouldn’t be here to snoop, would you miss Ratty?

    • Overblown shock horror

      • Goodness no!

      • Mm, okay…

      • Are you coming to poetry night tonight?

      • I dunno,

    • Turns to other Sett

      • Are we?

      • Oh Miss Sett!

      • I’m so sorry, I didn’t notice it was you

      • What happened to your fur?

      • They-

      • Accident.

    • Interrupt 

    • Beat

      • Magic accident

      • we need to spend tonight recovering.

      • Aw, poor thing.

      • Hope you’re feeling better soon.

    • Hands the key over

      • Thank you.

      • I have a delivery coming tonight as well, could you text me when it gets here

      • For sure

    • Ratty smiles

    • Takes other sett upstairs

    • They stand awkwardly in the entrance

    • This was probably the third or fourth time Ratty had been in Sett’s apartment.

    • Wasn’t missing much, it was a bedroom with a hot-plate and a bathroom the door barely closed on

    • Little piles of books, where they didn't do the courtesy of restraining their clutter

    • Butterflies, everywhere

    • Also where they kept…

    • Unless they had gotten rid of it…

    • But they wouldn’t have…

    • It was…

    • Ah!

    • Ratty pulls a banjo case from under the bed, flips it open

    • Sett’s first instrument on earth.

    • Ratty had helped them pay for it, took every dollar they had at that point before the E.O.H. grant came in

    • Pulls it out

    • Goes to hand it to other sett

    • Notices them standing

      • Here

    • Pats the pullout couch

    • They sit hesitantly

    • Ratty sets the banjo in their lap

      • we don’t- 

      • I know, hold on

    • Pulls at a hidden compartment in the case

    • One of Sett’s books

    • Mechanics in Music

    • Making Actual the Ephemeral.

    • Flips open to a page with a fret-board diagram

    • Reaches for Sett’s thread,

    • Realizes its not the same sett

      • Can you

      • Pull out a thread for me

      • We-

      • Yes, one moment.

    • Like something something, they drew it from their chest

    • Black, it stained their fingers like newspaper ink

    • Ratty takes it

    • Following the diagram,

    • Pulls it up through the construction

    • Very delicately guiding the other sett’s hands

    • Ties it off on the last tuning peg

      • Okay

      • Play

      • We don’t-

      • Wait,

    • Gets up,

    • Searches for some of Sett’s special tea

    • And their good tobacco

    • They would understand

    • Sets it brewing

    • Rolls it clumsily

    • Sets it on the other setts lips

    • Who then takes it and lights it for themselves,

    • Barely smiling

      • Just try.

      • Don’t think about it.

    • Beat

    • Strum

    • The strings splattering the white drum with ink, which rapidly fades away.

    • Beat

    • Begins to play

    • Hollow and discordant and 

    • Comes together 

    • As though the lopsided pieces were made for each other

      • There you go.

    • Emboldened, they choose individual notes

    • Blunted plucks on pure instinct

    • Ratty taps their knee gently

    • Starts to whistle

    • Sett looks up at the possum’s head

    • Bobbing gently 

    • And as though kicking off the gunk, the sound suddenly becomes full and sharp and warm

    • Her goofy grin, her beautifully tired eyes, she was certainly less suave than Sett had originally imagined, but then again nobody was that suave.

      • Atta girl…

    • Light

    • Trails up through the rope burns around their wrists

    • Sparkling and multicoloured

    • A sprinkling of shimmering oil below the blackened surface

    • At peace

      • Describe some peace here

    • Knock knock

    • Other Sett jumps

    • Immediately pulls a blade out of subspace

    • Black thread whipping back through the instrument and into their hands

      • Sorry, am I interrupting?

    • JC

      • No, you’re okay

      • Your food is here

      • Perfect.

      • I’ve never-

      • Don't worry

    • Ratty takes the box

      • I’ll teach you how to do that too

      • Thanks JC

    • Sits back down

    • Notices sett’s panic

    • Puts the food down on a side table

    • Gently sets a hand on their lap

    • They begin to cry

    • Dive into Ratty’s chest

      • I’m sorry

      • You’re okay. It’s okay.

      • I’m not staying.

      • I can’t stay.

      • I know

    • Presses her cheek against other sett

      • Just

      • Lets enjoy it while it lasts

      • I’m here right now.

      • You don’t have to think about tomorrow.

  • 
    

    
    

    ---

    
    

    • Steph drops off the rest of the tower project schematics from her old apartment

    • Rolled out on the floor of the makerspace

    • Looked like four kids drawing on the floor with markers

    • Angel - reverted back to siri-levels of functionality

    • Sett - with all of the violent instinct and none of the revolutionary experience

    • Ratty - Just not coping

    • Eleanor - who probably won’t end up coping

      • You doing okay El?

      • Uh, yeah, I dunno.

      • Maybe.

      • We can talk about it later.

      • Okay.

    • A silent “don’t wait if you don't want to”

    • Refocus 

      • So, sorry Steph, the tower is here. Right?

      • Hm?

    • Tail end of a three day LSD bender

      • Oh

      • Yeah

      • It’s circles around with the sun and everything but generally those two corners line up

      • Cool…

      • So…

      • Do you want a gun? By the way?

      • What

      • I got bored and made a bunch of Luty guns

      • Oh no way

      • That's sick…

    • 
      

      •  here’s what I’m thinking.

  • 
    

    
    

  • Fucking god damn it.

  • Long sigh

  • Frustrated

  • Gets up

  • Goes to the makerspace

  • Where Steph is still obsessing over 013’s armour

    • Steph

    • What’s the tower project

  • Turns

  • Eyes wide

  • Sweating

    • Ratty…

    • Oh my god, you’re high.

    • Yeah

  • Nods,

    • Sorry.

  • Takes out a foil-wrapped card

    • Helps me cope.

    • Want some?

    • No, not- not at all.

    • Suit yourself.

  • Beat

    • Stephanie, what’s the tower project?

    • OH, right sorry.

    • So in the 80s we had- by the way- how sick is it that I’m still like, young and hot?

    • Steph.

    • Okay, so in the 80s, back when I was actually making new motherboards for AC, they- Eden- like, we had this night, and they basically figured it out.

    • And we called it the tower project because it was like, this process of trying to-

    • So in order to travel between dimensions, you need a lot of power, and for some reason you need to be really high up. No idea why, you would have to ask Eden,

    • And so after a few meetings with the Canada Lands Company, 

    • I kept going because investors and government people really like me, y’know?

    • I’m like, that genius type of thing, like Iron Man… Elon Musk

  • Goes back to her work

    • Elon Musk wishes he was me...

    • Anyway, they basically kept saying no, right?

    • They had that fucking bubble at the top of the tower that would have been-

    • Anyway.

  • Blink

  • Blink

    • I’m sorry I completely lost my train of thought.

    • Angelcorp wanted to build a trans-dimensional, thing, inside the CN tower?

    • Oh yeah! Originally, yeah. But then like, they were so weird about it, we basically got clearance to do it as long as it didn’t interfere with tourism

    • Cus all you have to do in the 70s to drum up tourism was build a tall building

    • Anyway

    • Am I repeating myself?

  • Blink

    • So,

    • No,

    • We wanted Ben’s Bubble, y’know, and they said NO you can have, anywhere where no one can see it,

    • Which wasn't enough.

    • So, I had this idea like, we could build an invisible helicopter pod and just

    • Use the space they gave us to run a big fuck-off cable from the basement

    • Uh that was the tower project.

    • Huh.

  • Beat

    • Okay

    • I’m gonna go for a drive.

• 
  

  
  

  ---

  
  

  • Had barely poked her head out of her car before she was assailed

  • A white rabbit

  • Long, dirty blonde hair

    • Oh my god! Eleanor! Hi!!!

  • This was her sister, Kassandra.

  • Kass, she had always called her

  • A weird combination of open and secretive

  • Eleanor knew exactly how her step-sister felt about her

  • But had no idea what she did for a living.

  • Behind her, waiting awkwardly for his hug, was Kass’s twin brother, Case.

  • Energetic problem-causer

    • I can’t believe you got this thing working!

    • I told mom- your mom- like, she’s never coming back, and this and that,

    • And believe me I TRIED, okay?

    • You don’t want to know about-

    • Anyway

    • Beautiful car!

    • You should take us for a ride some time

  • Smiles awkwardly

  • Not sure what to say

    • Oh my GOD has it been that long?

    • Say hi you doofus!

  • Laughs

    • Hi Kass

  • Swoops around

  • Hugs her step-brother

    • Hi Case

    • Hey Eleanor!

    • It was so weird of you never to visit

    • I think, at least

    • Cus I’ve known Ratty for eight years now

    • And Kassie still plays-

    • Calm down tiger

  • Squeezes him

    • I'm here now

    • Well yeah,

    • That’s what matters I guess.

  • Looks over shoulder

    • Hey mom,

  • Other mom

  • Her mom’s wife

  • Had known her all through growing up

  • She smiled smugly

    • Knew you would be back

  • Tight kiwi accent

    • Where’s Mama?

  • Beat

  • Mom rolls her eyes

    • She’s in bed.

    • Went as soon as I told her you were coming

  • Beat

  • Sad

  • Eleanor thinks about how sad she is

    • Don’t look like that

    • C'mon,

    • We’ve got some catching up to do

• 
  

  
  

  ---

  
  

  • Wasn’t much to do but wait.

  • She had arrived in the late afternoon

  • Parked her bike in the concrete gully

  • Sat on it

  • Watched the time go by

  • Too distracted to do anything but sit

  • It was visible as the sun set

  • She never liked how the tower loomed over her

  • Hated it, in fact.

  • Avoided looking up

  • But as the sun set

  • There was a block of sky that seemed hesitant to shift

  • Shifted into thought

  • Unable to think about anything

  • And yet

  • This time reserved for thinking

  • Head empty

  • Time goes slowly

  • And then

    • Ma’am, back away from the tower.

  • Shocked out of sleep

  • !!

  • Cop 

    • I- I’m just waiting for a friend

    • You’re gonna want to back up.

  • Gun

  • Not pointed at ratty

  • But up in the air

  • At the mid point of the tower

  • A streak of black in an orange jumpsuit, sliding down one of the legs

  • Ratty watches as it launches itself off of the concrete slope

  • Slams into the plaza below with a cement crunch.

    • Freeze!

  • Thick, black rope tears through the guard’s chest

  • Dead instantly

  • Eyes turn on Ratty

  • Beat

  • Definitely Sett

  • Their fur black and shimmering

  • Sprints for the gun, grabs it, takes off.

  • Ratty throws a leg over her motorcycle

  • Follows 

  • They drop onto the train tracks and keep going for union station

  • They’re somehow at the platform before ratty’s bike

  • Loses them

    • Fuck

  • Gunshots from behind

  • Ratty turns to see a cop with a pistol levelled at her

  • Fair fucks tbh she’s on a motor vehicle

  • Ramps off off the train tracks and onto Lower Simcoe

  • Around the corner,

  • Parks up on the sidewalk

  • Into the main hall of union station

  • Where the fuck…

  • There

  • Bright orange jumpsuit

  • A flash at the other end of the hall

  • Sees ratty

  • Ducks into the construction

  • Ratty holds her breath as the last streak of black disappears into the blue tarp

  • Slips in herself

  • Grabs Sett’s wrist

  • Unfreezes

    • Sett!

  • The goat turns

  • Levels the gun at Ratty’s forehead

  • Gaze flickering in the shadows of people passing outside

    • How do you know our name?

    • I’m- your wife

    • Our wife is dead.

  • Beat

    • What happened to your fur

  • Void in the right eye highlighted by light

    • What happened to your eye?

  • Ratty reaches

  • Sett flinches

  • Keeping the gun trained on her head

    • It,

    • we-

    • You should know.

    • we got revenge for your death.

  • Sarcastic

    • we tore it all down

    • we tore it all down for you.

  • Shaking

  • Again, sarcastically

  • Beat

  • Ratty tips her head against the barrel of the gun

  • Shocking sett

    • We don’t belong here.

  • Stunned

  • Step back

  • Drops the gun

  • Crying

  • Freezing on their cheeks in the cold

    • we don’t know what happened.

    • It was over,

    • It was all gone,

    • And we-

    • we just woke up in a cage

    • And we thought

    • It’s okay

  • Approaches cautiously

    • It’s okay.

  • Wraps her arms around Sett

  • Small in her arms

    • Let me take you home.

    • I’ll warm you up.

    • You’ll be safe.

• 
  

  
  

  ---

  
  

  • Back to Eleanor

    • Conflict time

  • There were still gaps in her memory

  • She could push out from where she had already cleared

  • But her siblings and her mom helped her drop down new spots to branch out from

  • A night of OH YEAHs

  • Over pizza from a place in the nearest town and video games

  • Mostly dominated by casey as background noise while Eleanor talked and was talked to

    • I remember

    • First time i met you

  • A few glasses of wine in

    • This was, I don't know how much you remember. I was a bartender at this resort. This was your mom's big trip for you, right?

    • And you come up - how old was she Kass?

    • Two years older than us

    • That's right, and you had just started high school… so this shit-dicked little 16 year old rocks up to the bar like she fucking owns the place-

    • God you were funny

    • What did she say again Kass?

    • Dunno mom.

    • I'm sorry- shes gaming

  • Eleanor nods

  • Faux knowingly

    • Anyway-

  • Stops

  • Looks up over Eleanor

    • Hey you!

  • The flirty tone of someone a little more than tipsy

    • Your daughter's been waiting to say hello

  • Beat

  • Ignore

    • Casey can you turn that down

    • Sure thing, step

  • Beat

    • Eleanor

    • Good to see you're, still around

    • Yeah, for sure

  • Did her best to be inviting

  • Didn't work

  • Step mom gets up and climbs thru the ghost 

    • El, c'mon, don't be like that.

  • Door slams

  • Beat

  • Casey and kass have paused their game

  • Eleanor staring into their mug

    • What is her fucking problem, honestly…

    • It's okay.

    • It's not.

    • Do you want me to go talk to her.

    • No, I think like, I should do it, if anyone is going to

  • Beat

    • Are you going to?

    • No, I don't really want to

    • Well then

  • Step mom gets up

  • Goes into the bedroom

  • They fight in the background

  • Beat

    • For what it’s worth, I don’t really care if you’re dead or not

    • Casey!

  • Kass hits her brother

    • Like in a good way!

    • If I had your address I would come visit.

    • Or even your phone number.

    • Oh shit, you don’t have my phone number?

    • Here

  • Gives

  • Beat

    • Do you wanna play-

  • Click 

  • Comes back out

    • Can I talk to you in private, Eleanor.

  • Beat

    • Yeah sure

  • Gets up

  • Goes to sr.'s room

  • full of plant life

  • massive, west-facing window

  • that must’ve been where Eleanor had gotten it from

  • Sits down on the bed 

  • Eleanor sits down next to her

  • Deep breath.

    • I killed your father.

  • Beat.

  • Hard beat.

    • He was, a horrible-

    • He did the kind of thing no man should ever do, Eleanor. And i think about

  • Throat

  • Tight

    • I think about you losing your memories

    • And i think,

    • I'm so sorry that happened

    • But there are things that, I never wanted you to remember.

  • Gulp

    • I'm your mother

    • It's my job to keep you safe, and happy, and healthy

    • And I love you, so much 

    • Please never doubt that, okay?

  • Nod

  • Beat

    • I just

    • Every time I see you

    • I'm reminded of all those years I had to live, alone, with this weight.

    • And I'm reminded,

    • Or i guess i learned

    • That death is less permanent than i thought.

  • Beat

    • And I get scared

    • I never wanted you to meet that man.

    • I never-

  • Hitching breath

    • I don't know

    • I am stuck with this guilt of

    • I just don't know

  • Beat

  • Eleanor thinks

    • You never got caught?

  • Laugh-sniff

    • The man was an idiot. Everyone knew he was gonna kill himself one way or another.

    • I just, sped the process along a little bit.

  • Beat

  • Eleanor wonders what John Sloth did

  • Wonders if she wants to know

  • In time, those memories would return, whether she wanted them to or not 

  • Hugs her mother

  • Sr.'s surprised

  • Beat

  • Hugs back

    • I'm sorry

    • I wanted to be there for you tonight.

    • I really wanted to be your ma' again.

    • I'm so sorry

    • I really tried

    • Shh

  • Through the pain

  • Eleanor put her mother first for once

  • Cried into her shoulder

  • Tears bubbling away from her face

  • Unconcerned with gravity

  • 
    
  • 
    

• 
  

  ---

  
  

  • Exposition dump.

  • The other Sett’s Ratty had been wiped out of existence before she even got a chance to fight him

  • The soul bond they had formed was subsequently dragged into non-being

  • Less than a void

  • Linked to nothing and getting weaker

  • Sett’s abilities had performed a stack underflow

  • Jumping all the way up to infinity from negative infinity

  • Power unsurpassed by even the elder gods 

  • And they tore it down

  • They were angry, and had no recourse but revenge.

  • Strange to think

  • The goat that was so scared

  • So small

  • Sat sipping a cup of soup in her living room

  • Had killed every piece of the afterlife hierarchy

  • Had spent 40 years in the void left behind.

  • Stewing in anguish/remorse/cant think of the word

  • That was what had dyed their fur. Black like the void, with the shimmering colours of the pantheon glowing through the cracks.

  • They sat with their shoulders bunched, as though guarded against the possibility of being made to feel better

  • They hadn’t stopped crying

  • Couldn’t be blamed

  • Seemed only to feel worse as they were told how their afterlife had played out.

    • So,

    • That wasn’t just-

    • We’re really not supposed to be here.

    • I- as far as I can tell, no.

  • Hm

  • Sips their soup

  • Looks at ratty

  • Something completely indecipherable

  • Ratty puts out a hand

  • Palm up

  • Sett hesitates

  • Sets their own hand in hers

  • Closes it

  • A new wave of tears

  • This time all but alien on their blank, near confused expression.

  • Why couldn’t this be real?

  • They begged the universe

  • (Expand on this thought)

  • Pulls their hand back

  • Wipes their tears

  • And stops abruptly

    • Could we um,

    • Have some water?

    • Of course

  • Ratty gets up to get it

  • They examine the back of their hand

  • The blood of the gods

  • Wondered if this was always an alternative

    • If it’s alright, after that, we would like to get some rest.

    • Of course, yeah. You can take my bed

  • Winces

    • No that’s-

    • we can sleep here.

    • You sure?

    • Yes.

    • Okay, I’ll uh,

  • Goes up in the front hall closet

  • Above the shoes and jackets are blankets

  • Brings down the milk crate full of blankets

    • Here

  • Sets the water jug down

  • And the milk crate full of blankets

    • Thank you.

  • Beat

  • Ratty hovers

    • Is- are you going to be okay?

    • Yes, we’re just, very tired, we think.

    • Yeah,

  • Sigh

    • Yeah, me too.

    • I’ve had uh-

    • One hell of a day, I think.

    • we’re sorry for any trouble I caused.

    • No,

    • Not you

    • It’s…

    • I’ll tell you tomorrow.

    • I’m right in that room, if you need me, don’t hesitate.

    • Okay.

  • Beat

  • Ratty leaves

  • Sett lies back

  • Stares at the point beyond the slowly rotating ceiling fan

  • Turned on more for the hum than for the breeze

  • Still

  • It was impossible to keep their thoughts at bay

  • The darkness around them, ebbed slowly with their exhaustion

  • The flickering nothingness of the void

  • When their eye had nothing to lock onto

  • Actual nothing

  • It made things up.

  • And yet this 

  • Was different

  • The soft, orange edges of subspace

  • Sat up abruptly

  • It had been a long time since they were allowed in here

  • And on the opposite couch,

  • Glowing like a beacon in the dark

  • Their former self

  • Fur still a barely dusty white

  • And as they came to know each other

  • Plane after plane collided with each other

  • Earth’s material plane

  • Then hell's

  • Then, in the loudest bang of them all

  • Sett covered their ears

  • Barely blocking out the impact bark of

  • What was left of their universe

  • And the other sett, seemed not to notice

  • They stood from their couch,

  • Crossed the room,

  • Gently cupped the godkiller’s cheek in their hand

    • You poor thing

  • Turned their head to get a better look at the eye

    • Let me fix that for you

• 
  

  
  

  ---

  
  

  • Sits bolt upright

  • Taps their eye

  • Sure enough, still missing

  • Stands, wrapped in the blanket

  • Stares at the orange jumpsuit, discarded on the adjacent couch

  • Turns to ratty’s door

  • Not quite shut

  • Wanders over to the window

  • Gently thumbs a dent in the wall

  • They didn’t belong here

  • They were a monster

  • Looks at ratty’s door

  • Opens it

  • Steps in 

  • The possum is sleeping

  • She stirs

    • Ratty?

  • They were not used enough to speaking to make the wake anything but abrupt

  • Ratty jumps

  • Making sett jump

    • Sorry

    • What’s 

  • Rubs sleep out of her eyes

    • Whats up?

    • we’re made anxious, sleeping in an open space.

  • Blink

    • Didn’t you- 

    • Aren’t you a god killer?

    • we still have animal instincts, just like everyone else

    • Okay, for sure

  • Gets up

    • You can sleep on my bed and I’ll-

    • You can stay here.

  • Beat

    • "Oh, yeah, for sure. Okay."

  • Sett kneels on the bed

  • Looking down at ratty through their one working eye

  • The gentle curve of her horns highlighted in the city light

    • So you and your Sett, went through with it, then?

  • Looks up

  • Never able to actually see them

    • Yeah,

    • It uh-

    • Hurt,

    • Didn’t cry at all though

    • So

    • That makes me… cool.

  • Beat

    • That was a joke

    • Yes, we know.

  • A cruel smile creeps across the goat’s face

  • Their lack of reaction was also part of the joke

  • Ratty gets it, smiles.

  • They lie down

  • And stare at the ceiling

  • Ratty lets her eyes lull closed

  • Sett thinks

    • Ratty?

    • Hm? Yes?

    • There’s something you’re not telling me.

  • Beat

    • I’m trying not to process it

    • I’ve had a long day and I don’t want to feel bad anymore.

    • Not right now.

    • we’re dying.

    • No-

  • Rolls over, staring up at the ceiling

    • In order to get my Sett back, I would

    • I don’t know this for sure,

    • But I would need to - I think - put you back in your own universe

  • Beat

  • Sett doesn't react

    • Yes

    • That makes sense.

  • Rolls over

  • Nestles up next to her

  • Using their hip to force ratty into position, cradling them

  • Takes her hands

  • "Is this something you're comfortable with?"

    • "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine."

  • Beat

  • Ratty's breathing slows

  • Sett staring at the possums paws

    • "Ratty..."

    • "we really missed your hands..."

  • Too tired to think of something to say

  • So didn’t

  • Let the night pass.

• 
  
  

  
  

  o line up her shot

• Pulled trigger

• Bullet ripped through the base of the wolf’s spine.

• Let time catch up

  • Hey Cliff.

  • 17.

• Bang

• Shoulder 

• Steps over him into the cabin

• Goes into the fridge

• A paper bag full of takeout from the nearest town

• Rubbery, half-frozen fish and chips

• Plates it

• Throws it in the microwave

• crouches next to cliff

  • 13 is dead.

  • She was alive?

  • You didn’t know?

  • No.

  • Hm.

• Ding

• Takes food from the microwave

• Stares, at the pooling blood

• As her teeth tear through the rubberized fish

• Opens the fridge again

• Ketchup

• Sits down on Cliff’s couch

• Eats 

  • How did she die?

  • She was dependent on a life support system.

  • You took her off it?

  • Yes.

  • So

• Beat

  • You killed her.

• Beat

• No thoughts head empty.

• Levels the gun again

• Bang

  • Die faster.

  • Fuck you.

• Bang

  • How dare you take the love of my life away from me? Twice.

• Bang

• Beat 

• Ached from the cold.

• Unzipped her boots

• 
  

• Steps over cliff again

• Underside of her paws crackling as the tacky blood peeled from the hardwood with each step.

• Kneels in the bathroom

• Sets the water on the tub going

• Went back out into the hall

• Sat with cliff

  • What was her name

  • Who?

  • 13.

  • I don’t know.

  • What do you mean, you don’t know?

• Takes a bite of chips

• Blood on her fingers

• Its probably inside her system now

• Oh well

  • I just don’t.

• Stares

• Bang

• Cliff is dead

• Gets up

• Strips down

• Sits down in the bath

• Watches the blood rise from her body

• Shuts her eyes